Railway



Sept. 6, 1932. l-l. w. SANFORD 158755506 RAILWAY Original Filed Oct. l, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 wll "l Q u INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Sept- 6, v1932 y H. w. SANFORD 1,875,566

RAILWAY Original Filed Oct. 1. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Spt. 6, 1932. H. SANFORD RAILWAY Original Filed 0G17. 1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 Unire Ys'ranas HUGH W. SANFORD, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE- RAILWAY original application ined oe'fcvolwifl,l 1927seria1 No.52ea35e, .nowratent No. 1,so2,445,yaated April 2s, 1931. Divided and this application lled.l MarchA 5, 1931. Serial N o. 520,420.

My improvement relates particularlyrto railways in which provision is made for dumping loose material through the bottoni of a car ata chosen point on the track of'a railway, the bottom or Hoor of the car consisting ofdoors yhinged on lines transverse to the length of the car, the doors being normally in the horizontal position and adapted to turn downward on their hinges for the dis- 10 charge of the material in the car.-

For a similarinvention, reference is made to Lette-rs Patent 'of the United` States, No. 1,268,390, granted to me June 4, 1918.-

vIn the car of that patent, there are three l vbottom doors, one being hinged to one car axle, another being hinged tothe other cary axle, and the third beinghinged to va rod -Vor shaft supported at the forward end of the car.

k20 e The object of this invention is to provide improved means 'other than the axles for hinging the irst and second doors. Normally the rear door is held in horizontal position by latch mechanism which to be released by means located at the discharge station or tipple, that means acting when, the car reaches that. station, asdescribed in the abovementionedLetters Patent.

The present application is a division of my former application, SerialNo. 223,356, filed October l, 1927, now patent No. 1,802,445, dated April 28, 1931, on railways, and r`elates particularly to the disposition of the hinge-pin or shaft on which the door or doors are hingedly supported above the lower edge of the side or end sills in `order 'to be protected thereby from obstructions if the car should be derailed. This arrangement of the door supporting means also increasesthe iioor cars are necessary to-fobtain th'eklnaxi'- mum capacity for low-height cars.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a. side elevation of a car and track structure illustrating my improvement, the end sills or bumpers being omitted; l n Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left hand or rear end of the same structure; v-

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal upright section through the car; l

.the line 4 4 of Fig. fied form;

charged from the car maybe received by a land for-that reason be described flrst.

road clearance on low-Hoor cars,and :low-4 jits pivot E4, above its hook whereby'the arm Fig. 4 is a .transverse upright'section on the-line 4-4 of Fig. 3, lookingtoward the left, parts being omitted; y

4Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section near 3, but showing a lnodi- Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, are other sectional views similar to Fig. 5, but showing the mechanism'in other forms.

n Referring to said drawings, A, A are track rails resting on ties A1, and piers A2.A B, B are ordinary car-wheels applied to the ends ofthe a'Xles C, C. D is the body of the car.

Dl, Dl are side sills forming portions of the car. The ends of these sillsare joined by `the endrsills or bumpers (not shown). In `the form shown, these side` sillsV are metal channels. Boxes C1, seated in the channels of the side sills receive the axles C. (Fig. 4;)

The end of the car at the right,`as viewed Ain the drawings, is the forward end of the car, and it is to be un'derstoodthat the car moves forward for dumping and for closing the doors after the load has been discharged.

The discharge yis downward between the rails V A, and the placeatvwhich the'discharge is effected is called the dumpingstationor tipple. Beneath therail A, the material disc'hute or another car or any other suitable 80 device, not shown.

Three doors, E, are placed in series to form the bottom of thc car. Since therrearmost of these three doors controls the series, it may be regarded as the first of the 'series Said door has at its forward edge three pairs of hinge lnelnbers G2 and C3 (Figs. 3 and'4) Vas hereinafter described. At its rear edge, two bars or' arms E2, are attached to the lower face of the door and project a little way rearward of said rear edge.

On the rear end of the car body and in an kupright plane transverse to the length of the car body are a pair of large bell cranks E3 (Fig. 2) pivoted at E4 tothe car body. Each of said bell cranks has a hook E5, adapted to extend beneath'the adjacent bar or arm E2, each bell-crank being so arrangedcas tobring bearing the hook may swing toward and from the upright, middle, longitudinal plane of the car when the arm E6 of the bell-crank extends horizontally outward and by Vits preponderating weight tends to tilt the bellcrank so as to move said hook toward said plane. Each of said hooks has a bevel face E7, adapted to be engaged by the adjacent bar or arm E2, when the latter is carried upward by the upward movement of the rear portion of the door into the closed position.

IVhen `said bars E2, thus rest on the hooks E5, said door is'held firmly in` its upper or closed positioinV And this condition continues until said hooks are moved outward far enough to allow the bars E2 to descend. Said hooks are made to move outward by raising the horizontal arms VE6 of the bell cranks. To cause said arms to rise automatically when the car reaches the dumping station, a cam member A3 is `placed ateach side of the track in position to engage the lower edge of the adjacent latch arm E6, and cause said arm to ride upward 'on said cam member during vthe further forward move l ment of the car, the arm'EG being extended far Venough to bring said cam member into the path of said arm.

It is to be observed that said door will not lbecome released unless both arms E6 are raised. I-Ience said door' will not ordinarily become released through the accidental raising of one of said arms by means other than one of said cam members.

Each door has at its front edge three pairs of hinges each comprising an upper block C2, and a lower strap, C3. Rivets C4, extend through said strap and said block and the 'door E, and hind said members to each other.

The under parts of the blocks C2, are made concave to receive the upper partv of a shaft F, which is'parallel to and vlower than the top of the adjacent axle C, and is approximately as long as the distance between the inner face of one side sill and the inner face of the other side sill. l

In Fig; 4, each end of the shaft F rests in the lower part of an upright hanger F1, which is placed against the inner face of the adjacent side sill far enough forward of the axle to pass the latter. Rivets, F2, extend through said hanger and through the upright yweb of the adjacent side sill.

This construction allows placing the hinge line of the doorrlower than the axle.V Furthermore, the door is not supported on a member which rotates-notV onthe axleV C, which is sometimes made rotatable in cars of this G'eneral type. Thus these hinge members `2 and C3, are not subjected to wear due to such rotation.

In Fig. 5, the structiiieis the same as in Fig 4, excepting that the box Cl is omitted and the shaft F is absent, and a stub G1 is made intergral with the hanger G,.and the hinge members C2 and C3 are applied to the stub, it being understood that the structure is the same at the other side of the car.

In Fig. 6, the structure is the same as in Fig. 5, excepting that the upper end of the hanger is extended in the form of a hook G2, reaching across the upper flange of the side sill and secured to said flange by a rivet F2.

In Fig 7, the hanger H is not attached to the side sill in any manner. On the side Isill rests a wood sill Hl, on which is a part of a wooden side wall H2. The hanger H extends over the inner face Vof Vthe side sill and over the inner faces of the wood sill and a part of the wooden side wall. Bolts H3, join this hanger to the wood sill and to the side wall. The lower part of the hanger supports the shaft F, which supports the hinge members C2 and C3.

In Fig. 8, the parts are the saine as in'Fig. 7, excepting that the shaft F is absent and a horizontal stud H4 is madeintegral withtlie hanger H, and supports the hinge members C2 and C3. y

In Fig. 9, the hanger I is not connected with the side sill in any manner. A wooden side wall I1 rests on the upper flange of the side sill. The hanger extends yfrom the inner face of the side sill and the inner face of.

said wall. A strap I2, extends over the outer face of the side sill and is secured thereto by rivets I3, and extends outward under the upper flange of the side sill and upward over the outer face of said wall. Rivetsv or bolts I4, extend through said strap and said wall and through the Yupper part of the hanger I, for binding said strap and said wall and said hanger to each other. A horizontal stud I5,

is integral with the lower end of the hanger I,V

and supports the hinge members C2 and C3.

In Fig. 10, an inclined metal plate wall J1, has its lower edge flanged horizontally and seated on the upper flange of the side sill and secured to said flange by mea-ns of a rivet J2..

The hanger J, extends over the inner face of the sidesill and over a part of the inner face of the side wall J1. A strap J 3, extends over the outer face of the side sill and outward under the upper flange of said sill and thence f upward t0 meet the outer face of the side wall. A rivet J 5, extends through the upper .part of said strap and through saidfwall and .and C3. f

In Fig. 11, an inclined plate metal wall L1, has its lower edge flanged outward herizontally and seated on the upper flange of the side sill and secured thereto by rivets L2.

kThe hanger L, extends over vthe inner face of the side sill and is free therefrom 'and extends upward over the innerface ofthe side lise with said side structures over a large area which facilitates attachments to the side structures. That facilitates fixing the hangers'to the` side structures by means of rivets or bolts. Thus placing the hangers closely against the facesof the body side structures facilitates bending the upper ends of the hangers outward over adjacent parts lof the side structures, as shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8, 10 and 11.'

Outward bending ofthe hangers in contact with the side structures aids in giving to the hangers a strong engagement with the side structures.

In Fig. 6, the upper end of the hanger'hooks over the upper face of the side sill Dl.l F ur- `thermore, in all the forms, the hanger is given lateral support against the inner face of the side sills. Griving these hangers this extended contact and support allows making the hangers of relatively thin metal, whereby thehangers occupy small space in horizontal lcross-section and thus avoid obj eotionable'reduction of capacity in the lower part of the car body.

By the hinge structures shown, provision is made for'placing the doors E on a hinge line or axis above thelower face or flange of the side sill Dl. In Figs. 5,16, 8 and 9, horizontal studs support the door, each of the entire studs being above the level of the lower face of the side sill D1. Figs. 4, 7, 10 and 1l indicate a rod, in lieu of studs, to bring the axial line of the door above the lower face of the side sill. In Figs. l0 and l1, the lower part ofthe hinge member C3, is above the lower face of the side sill D1.

For practical operation, it is important to bring the forward part of the door and the door-supporting members high relative to the lower flanges of the side sills, in order that rwhen a car becomes derailed yor runs over a rock between the track rails', the door-'supporting members and the forward part of the door will be less likely to strike the rock or lother obstruction.

Although the doors of the car are curved downward, below thehinge line of the doors, they may meet such obstructions without serious damage, for the obstruction may lift the main part of the door.

rIbis arrangement or location of` the door supporting means also increases thefro'ad clearance on low-floor'cars', and' low-floor cars are necessary to obtain the maximum capacity for low height cars. y

I claim: Y

l. In a dumping car, the combination of a n protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors for said car, hangers 4carried by'the for supporting said structure, a plurality of vtransversely hinged'k drop-bottom dumping f doors forsaid car, hangers vcarried by the framev structure and means carriedb-y the hangers for hingedly supportingat'least one of'said doors for swinging movement about an approximately horizontal axis, said axis being disposed above the bottom' of the protesting frame structure.

3. In a dumping car,`the combination of 'a protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a v plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom vdumping doors disposed 'within the confines of the frame structure, hangers carried by the frame structure and means' 'carried by the'hanjg'ers for hingedly supporting'said doors for swinging movement about approximatelyhori-zontal axes, said laxes being permanently disposed above the bottom of the protecting frame structure. l

4.' In a dumping car,- the combination of a protecting-frame structure, wheels and' axles for supporting said structure, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors disposed within the Ac'onlines of 'the vframe structure, one ormore hangersanda hinge-pin carried thereby for hingedly sup.- porting atleast one ofthe doors said hinge pin being permanently disposedl etween the horizontal planes of the top of the axle and the bottom ofthe frame structure.

y5. In a dumping car, the combination of a protecting frame structure, Wheels and axles for supportingsaidstructUre, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors for the car, one or more hangers, and a hinge-pin or barother than the axle carried Y by said hangers for hingedly supporting each 'of the doors for swinging movement about an 'approximately horizontal axis, said hingeizo sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixe`v hanger members extending` transversely overthe sidestructuresadiacent and below the level of thev axles, and making extended lateral contact with the sidestructures and Vsecured thereto, horizontal door supporting means carried by the hanger members and disposed withinthe coniines of the planes of the top of the axle and the bottom of the sills to be rotected thereby, and one or more releasable dro-p bottom doors hinged tosaid doorsupporting( means.

I. The combination ot car body side structures in which are sills,l axles supporting the side sillils, wheels carryingsaidA axles, fixed hanger members extending transversely over the side structures adjacent andy below the level of the-axles, and making extended lateralcontact with the side structures and secured thereto,ehorizon tal door supporting means carried by the hanger members and permanently disposed within the oonnes of the planesy ot the top of the axles and the bottom of the sills tobe protected thereby, a bottom door having its-forward portion hinged to, the, door supporting means, and releasable means for` supporting the rear edgevo said door when the latter is in the elosed position. a

8i The combination of car body side structuresini which are sills, axles. supporting the side sills, wheelscarrying said axles, fixed hangen members l extending transversely oyentheside structures adjacent and below thexleveljof the axles, and. making extended laterali Contact with the sidev structures and secured thereto, horizontal door supporting means, carried by the hanger members and permanently disposed within the contines of the@ planes otthe top of the axles and the bottomx ot the: sills: to be protected thereby, a1 bottom door' having its forward portion hinged; to: theA door supporting means, releasable. means-for supporting the rear edge offsaid door when the latter is in the closed position,y a second bottom door having its forward; portion hinged to ythe next forward door support-ing means-and having its rear edge normally supported by the for-ward edge of the first-mentioned door in position for; release from said? doorwhen the latter isturned downward into-.the discharge position.

9, In a dumping car, thecombination. ot a protecting frame structure, wheels and 'axles for supporting said structure, a plu;- rality of; transversely hinged drop bottom d umpingrdoors orsaidear, hanger. members carried by the frame structure and meanscarried by the hanger members and disposed below the axle andr above the bottomy of the protecting frame structure for hingedly supporting the doors. Y

10,.r In av dumping` car, the combination of ai, protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a plurality of transversely hinged. drop-bottom dumping doors` forsaidear, hanger members carried by the yframe structure and means carried by the hanger members for hingedly supporting one or more of the doors about van approximately horizontal -1- axis, said axis being disposed below the axis of the axle and above the bottom of the protecting frame structure..

ll. In a dumping Car, the combination of a frame structure havin@` sills, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors for said car, hangers carried by theA sills and means carried by the hangers Vfor hingedly supporting one or more of the doors for swinging movement about an approximately horizontal axis, said axis being disposed below the axis of the axle and above the Vbottom of the sills.

l2. Ina dumping oar, the combination. of a frame structure having side sills, wheels andjaxles for' supporting saidV structure, a plurality of, transversely hinged drop-bottom dump-ing doors for saidcar, one or more hangers carried by the side sills, and f a hinge-pin or bar carried by the hanger. on which an edge of each of one or more of said doors ishingedly supported, said pin or bar being supported entirely below the axle and above the` bottom of the side sills in protected'position, and releasable means for supporting the opposite edge of' at leastone 'oi said doors'.

13. In la dumping car, the combination of ay protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors for said car, hangers carriedA by the frame structure, means other than the axles and carriedV by the hangers for hinged'ly supporting each of a plurality of said doors, said means having the hinging axesdisposedgabove the bottom of the protecting Jframe structure, releasable means for supporting an edge of' one of said doors in closed position and to permit said door to dropI and rotate, and a second door adjacenty to said last-mentioned door and having an edge supported in position to be released by the droppingand rotation thereof.

14. In a dumping car, the combination o a protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, aplurality of, transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors disposedy within the coniines of the frame structure, hangers carried by the frame structure, means other than theaxle and carried by the hangers for hingedly supporting eachof a plurality of said doors for swinging movement about approximately horizontal axes, said axes being permanently disposed above the bottom of the protecting frame structure, releasable means Jfor supporting an edge Vof one' of said doors in closedf position and to permit' said door to drop and rotate, and a secnd door adjacent to said last-mentioned door and having an edge thereoi;l supported in position to be released by the dropping and rotation of said door.

l5. In a dumping ear, the combination of a protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors disposed within the confines of the frame structure, one or more hangers carried by the frame structure, a hinge pin carried by the hanger for hingedly supporting each of a plurality of the doors, said hinge pin being permanently disposed between the horizontal planes of the top of the axle and the bottom of the frame structure, releasable means for supporting an edge of one of said doors in closed position to permit said door to drop and rotate, and a secondl door adjacent to said last-mentioned door and having an edge supported in position to be released by the dropping and actual rotation of said door.

16. In a dumping car, the combination of a protecting frame structure, wheels and axles for supportingr said'structure, a plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors for said car, hangers carried by the frame structure, means carried by the hangers and disposed below the axle and above the bottom of the protecting frame structure for hingedly supporting the doors. releasable means for supporting an edge of one ol said doors in closed positionto permit said door to drop in rotary motion. and a second door adjacent to said last-mentioned door and having an edge supported in position to be released by the dropping and actual rotation of said door. e

17. In a dumping car, the combination of a frame structure having side sills, wheels and axles for supporting said structure, a.y

plurality of transversely hinged drop-bottom dumping doors for said car. one or more hangers carried by the side sills,- a hinge-pin or bar carried by the hanger and on which an edge of each of one or more of said doors is hingedly supported` said pin or bar being supported entirely below the axle and above the bottom of the side sills in protected Aposition. releasable means for supporting the opposite edge of at least one of said doors. a second door adjacent to said last-mentioned door and having an edge supported in position to be released by the dropping of said door. In testimony whereof I have signed my name. this 25th day of February` in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one. HUGH W. SANFORD. 

